It didn’t think I cared that much about it. You know, I remember writing 120 or so words about it back in 2017, for a print publication that no longer exists. The goal of this column was to communicate that there was an adorable-looking social simulation, a narrative-driven adventure game set at the base of Mount Fugu, coming to Nintendo Switch and PC in 2019 that readers really should watch closely. Countless indie games have come and gone since then, but Mineko’s Night Market has always been on my mind. 

Maybe it’s that sumptuous visual aesthetic that has kept Mineko’s Night Market burrowed deep in my consciousness. Take one look at it in motion and you get the sense that Meowza Games is building a world that is as warm and inviting as it is curious and eccentric, like a picture book you might have flicked through as a child. Mineko’s Night Market looks enchanting and I want to feel its magic wash over me.

The criminally overlooked Knights & Bikes captured a similar style, but there’s something about Mineko’s Night Market’s blend of patient exploration, puzzle-solving, mini-games, and cats – so many cats – that set it apart from Foam Sword’s awesome 2019 adventure. In Mineko’s Night Market you play a girl named Mineko as she moves to a mysterious Japanese island overrun with cats; you’ll spend your days foraging for items and improving skills like sewing and woodworking, crafting items that can eventually be sold to the locals at the weekly, uniquely-themed Night Markets. 

Once you’ve built up some cash reserves and made some new friends, you can start exploring the markets yourself, buying cute trinkets, or otherwise participating in a load of weirdly wonderful mini-games – taiko drumming, sumo suit wrestling,  Kabuki theatre, karaoke competitions, and more. The better you do at the market, the larger it will grow, eventually attracting new residents and guests. And you’ll otherwise occupy your time meditating in zen gardens, meeting the locals – who are themselves preoccupied with worshipping Abe, the Sun Cat – and embarking on whimsical quests across the island in an attempt to return the struggling village to its former glory. 

Good things come to those who wait

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I’m all in. It kind of sounds like Moonlighter by way of Animal Crossing and Night in the Woods. I’m not sure if that’s a fair comparison, but it’s the one I’ve landed on all the same. This is the devilish offshoot of anticipation, where your mind starts to fill in the blanks and imagine a world outside of the boundaries set by a developer. This is one reason I’m desperate to see more of Mineko’s Night Market, which has seldom been seen beside the odd trailer here (2018 (opens in new tab)) and there (2019 (opens in new tab)). 

Then again, I’m also so glad that Meowza has been given the support from publisher Humble to scope its game appropriately, and get it to a level of content and polish that the husband and wife core development team is happy with releasing. As Meowza announced the delay (opens in new tab), it noted that the studio has brought on an additional artist and an external engineering team to help Mineko’s Night Market over the line, all while committing to working at an appropriate pace. “We’ve had setbacks, both physical and mentally, but development has been in a stable place for a while now thanks to all the support we’ve received. We have normal work hours and don’t crunch, which means we’re in a healthy place to deliver quality development on all of our current milestones.” 

So I’m happy to wait. I will cry if Mineko’s Night Market is delayed again, but I’ll appreciate the reasons why all the same. You can’t rush a good thing, after all, and Mineko’s Night Market looks like it could be very good indeed. No release date has been set, but just as I said in that column back in 2017 I’m going to say here again in 2022: keep an eye on Mineko’s Night Market, folks, because it’s shaping up to be an indie game you will not want to miss. 

Mineko’s Night Market is just one of the many titles that have already been pushed this year. Read about all of the video game delays 2022 here. 

The post If this lovely looking indie game gets delayed again I will cry appeared first on Game News.

As spotted by Sims Community (opens in new tab), the official EA Careers website is currently hiring for a storyboard artist to work at its Maxis Studio – developer of The Sims 4. A quick look at the job listing (opens in new tab) shows that the position is no longer available, but the job description is still available to view. 

What’s interesting about this job listing is that the successful applicant will be responsible for helping the studio to “visualize our designs, gameplay experiences, and technology solutions through animatics and storytelling.” This, as pointed out by Sims Community, makes it sound as if The Sims 4 is getting some kind of cinematic storytelling – potentially cutscenes – in an update sometime soon. 

Some of the scenarios that EA wants to see from successful applicants include: “a conversation between multiple characters”, “a dinner sequence involving an extended family”, and “a lively sidewalk scene outside a store.”

This new inclusion hasn’t been officially announced by Maxis or EA and is currently just speculation, but that doesn’t stop us from getting excited about the future of The Sims 4 as well as any future simulation games the studio may be developing. 

New content for The Sims 4 is still constantly being rolled out, with one of the more exciting drops recently being the reveal of The Sims 4 Scenarios – a series of goal-based story missions that will reward players for completing them – as well as the ongoing The Sims 4 kits, which are periodically sent out to players every few months with new items included in each mini download. 

Looking for a way to get into the Maxis simulation game? Take a look at our guide on how to get started in The Sims 4. 

The post The Sims 4 job listing hints at cinematic storytelling in the future appeared first on Game News.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons update 2.0 has introduced a wealth of exciting new features and items that have breathed new life into my island life. But nothing is arguably as game-changing as the Pro Camera App for our little Nook Phones. The excellent handheld camera feature will let you change the perspective to first-person, and I can’t get enough of it. The first time I used it, I was overwhelmed by the way it really made me feel like I was truly in Animal Crossing: New Horizons myself. Shifting to my villager’s perspective has been bringing me closer to my island and my fuzzy companions in a very literal sense, and it’s easily one of my favorite new features.  

A new perspective

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Happy Home Paradise’s outdoor design tools belong in Animal Crossing: New Horizons.

The first chance I get, I have to go on what I end up dubbing ‘The Magical Walking Tour’ of my island. With the handheld camera’s eye-level view and the zoom functionality, I can now hone in on furniture, items, and areas like never before. I start noticing small details that previously passed me by, and get to appreciate the designs of little objects now that can now get a closer picture of my surroundings. 

The latest update, coupled with the Happy Home Paradise DLC, introduced a variety of exciting new items that are perfect for giving your island a fresh new look. Some of these new furniture additions feature delightful animations that really bring them to life, and with my first-person perspective, I can truly appreciate them. I recently created my own fairground using some of the new Plaza items and I couldn’t wait to see it during my magic walking tour. I delight in all of the little details of the attractions, from the Ferris wheel to the game stand with little ducks moving along in a row. I also zoom right in on the balloon stand and watch as the inflatable dog bobs up and down with the wind. 

The variety of different gyroids are also a treat to watch using the handheld camera. Each gyroid type has a different design and movement that makes each decorative friend unique, and each time I dig up another one to add to my collection, I whip the camera straight out to get a close up look. I’ve also taken to going to a spot on my island where I can use this perspective to look out over the ocean and listen to the soothing sounds of the waves.  

When you’re outside using the camera app, your movement is somewhat restricted – you can only move side-to-side or backwards and forwards. Inside, though, you can spin right around with the camera to take in a 360 view of each room for an extra magical view. Naturally, no tour would be complete without stepping into the place I call home on Iced Tea Island and I can hardly wait to see my home like I’ve never seen it before. As soon as I enter my front door, I take out the handheld camera to take in all the decorations at eye-level. Suddenly, I to feel as if I’m actually walking around the house I designed, and I spend some time taking in each room. Once again, this first-person perspective is letting me see a place I’ve seen so many times before with a renewed sense of appreciation. 

Making memories

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When I’m not touring my island or soaking up the sights of someone else’s island with my camera, I’m spending all of my time taking up close up shots of my villagers and setting up the perfect selfie with my favourite faces. Yes, Animal Crossing has well and truly really entered the smartphone generation now with the Pro Camera app functionality. Who wouldn’t want to take a selfie with Blathers or Brewster? Or get an adorable group shot of your villagers as they wander around the plaza? In all honesty, I fear for the memory space of my Switch now more than ever. How can I possibly stop taking screenshots when the camera is this good? 

Part of what makes the series so special is the characters who inhabit your island or town right alongside you. As someone who grew up playing Animal Crossing, there are certain villagers who are akin to childhood friends – like my dear cat pal Punchy – and I really appreciate the fact that New Horizons gives us a way to capture memories with them. The update has now made it possible for me to take photos that are worthy of hanging on my wall in reality. If only I could tell my kid self I will someday be able to take a close up shot of Punchy cooking, or snap a photo of us together as we both beam at the lens. My library of screenshots is now full of hilarious and adorable closeups, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.  

Using the Pro Camera app really does make it feel like I’m being transported directly into the shoes of my villager. I never expected the shift to a first-person perspective would make it feel like I’m actually in Animal Crossing, or give me a renewed sense of appreciation for the animations and smaller details of my island, but it did just that and more. It’s opened up the world of New Horizons to me like never before, and it’s the kind of feature I never knew I needed until now.  

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The post Animal Crossing New Horizons Pro Camera App let me go on a magical first-person walk around my island appeared first on Game News.

Developer Asobo has published a brand new slate of patch notes over on the official Microsoft Flight Simulator website (opens in new tab), which is available on PC, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S.

Headlining the new update are several stability and performance updates. You’ll hopefully see fewer crashes both in-game and on the world map after the update launches, and you’ll see fewer crashes relating to the offline AI traffic. Elsewhere in Microsoft Flight Simulator, the game will no longer freeze for a prolonged period of time when connecting or disconnect any peripherals, like VR headsets (VR came to Microsoft Flight Simulator late last year in an update).

There’s also a fix for the correct runway to appear during the landing challenge in Nice, and pilots are now displayed in the external plane view camera during the landing challenge in Isafjordur. Finally, achievements will no longer be rewarded in error for certain landing challenges, and the new update has fixed various flight planner bugs relating to Garmin devices, the VFR map, and more.

Elsewhere on the official game’s website, developer Asobo provided a roadmap for Microsoft Flight Simulator further down the line. You can check out the complete update roadmap for yourself just below, which runs through to September 2021, which sets the stage for new planes, world updates adding new locations, and much more.

Microsoft Flight Simulator only just launched on the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S earlier this week. It’s available through Xbox Game Pass on both consoles, and has already implemented all the previous update that the game received on PC, including real-time snow, the big UK and Ireland world update, and much more besides.

If you want to get your hands on Microsoft’s ace sim at the cheapest price point possible, head over to our guide on the best Microsoft Flight Simulator prices for more.

The post Latest Microsoft Flight Simulator update will focus on crashes and bugs appeared first on Game News.

The trailer shows off the four fish pals you’ll be able to guide from Barnardshire (a fictional English town that’s a recurring setting for Bossa Studios games) to their final destination of the nearby coast: the humble goldfish, who I’m pretty sure is not supposed to live in saltwater but whatever; the inflatable pufferfish who can roll across dry land with ease; the bitey-grabby piranha, and the majestically soaring flying fish.

Each fish’s special abilities will help you navigate the world while sowing discord in your wake. Whichever one you pick, it looks like you’ll start off in a bowl which the fish can somehow roll around Super Monkey Ball style. When you’re ready to start swimming in a bigger pond (or flopping around on the pavement) you can smash your bowl open and proceed on fin. Even a moderately deep puddle can become a safe harbor as you plan your escape route through town and around hazards like hostile wildlife and deep fryers.

Bossa Studios and Curve Digital plan to bring I Am Fish to PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X and S sometime this summer, with a public demo rolling out on June 16.

Edge Magazine took a look at the current state of funny video games to see if we’re in for a new golden age of interactive comedy. 

The post I Am Fish is the soggier and even more action packed follow-up to I Am Bread appeared first on Game News.

If you thought your island was getting crowded, look at this group picture which shows every single Animal Crossing: New Horizons villager crammed together, courtesy of Reddit user Bluesonified (opens in new tab) and it is a sight to behold.

I drew every character from Animal Crossing New Horizons! from r/NintendoSwitch

The art style isn’t your traditional Animal Crossing look, instead going for something that would look more at home on Cartoon Network in the 90s, but it’s oozing with style and you can easily identify all your favourite characters if you look hard enough. 

If you’re looking for Animal Crossing: New Horizons themed party games then this would make an ideal Animal Crossing meets Where’s Wally game. In fact, if you head to the artists Twitter page, that’s exactly what a bunch of their fans are doing. Someone calls out the villager and everyone races to screenshot them in the picture.

While this is a stunning piece of artwork based on the game. We’ve also seen some pretty amazing creations inside Animal Crossing: New Horizons too recently, with the Mad Max-inspired wasteland scene we reported on a few days ago and the super spooky horror movie short “Don’t Peak” that was made in the game last month. 

Bluesonified, who goes by foozhochii (opens in new tab) on Twitter, is a commission artist who has done loads of video game-themed group shots like this, which you can find on their Twitter page. We’ve spotted Paper Mario, Splatoon, and even Parappa the Rapper over there and they all look fantastic.

Check out our list of upcoming Switch games to see what else Nintendo fans have to look forward to this year.

The post Animal Crossing fan crams every single villager into one enormous picture appeared first on Game News.

The YouTube channel Bad Robo (opens in new tab) is responsible for these magnificent creations, and has designed several different areas of this jungle setting, including a waterfall city (opens in new tab) which looks as though it was taken right out of James Cameron’s Avatar. Take a look at this amazing creation below. 

Closer to the river. Little thermo is left, so it’s time for a sunny version. #MadeInDreams #DreamsPS4 Better quality https://t.co/fRHDEtjJKI pic.twitter.com/GilRoDOJiFMarch 28, 2020

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In the video, we get a glimpse of an ongoing creation, according to the designer themselves, which makes it feel like you’re walking through the Amazon Rainforest. From the clouds to the path, and even the river below. To dive even deeper into these worlds, fans of Bad Robo’s work can take a look at their VR work (opens in new tab) which was also created in Dreams. 

What’s even more impressive about these designs is that according to a tweet (opens in new tab) from the creator, they were actually designed on a base PS4 console, not even the Pro model. As well as showing off their latest work, Bad Robo’s YouTube channel also has tutorials on how to develop in Dreams including guides on lighting, reflections, creating assets plus so much more. 

Dreams was developed by Media Molecule in 2019 as a game design system that allows players to design their own interactive worlds and assets using Dream’s built-in tools and tutorials. This has led to several unique creations including the best-looking carpet we’ve ever seen, an indie God of War game, and even an unofficial Ratchet and Clank sequel. The amazing creations made in Dreams actually led to the creation of the Impy Awards, an awards ceremony to celebrate the Dreams community. 

To find more worlds to explore, take a look at our the best Dreams levels you can play right now list

The post This photorealistic jungle made in Dreams looks like a PS6 game appeared first on Game News.

Some wonderkids are already world famous, like Matthijs De Ligt, Mason Greenwood, and Phil Foden. Everyone already knows about these players and they’re essentially unattainable for everyone but the biggest clubs, so these global superstars have been excluded from our list. This FM21 wonderkids guide is to help shine a light on players you may not know have high potential. Also, wonderkid means 20 years old or younger, so both Mbappe and Donnarumma are finally too old for these lists.

Football Manager 2021 review | Football Manager 2021 facepacks | Football Manager 2021 logo packs | Football Manager 2021 tactics

Goalkeepers

FM21 wonderkids: Goalkeeper

Since goalkeepers don’t peak until late 20s, often early 30s, finding a wonderkid goalkeeper is a risk since they still won’t compare to the older players until much later down the line. With that in mind, if you’re building for the distant future, here are 10 of the best wonderkid goalkeepers in Football Manager 2021.

Centre Back

FM21 wonderkids: Centre Back

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A few of these young centre halves will set you back a pretty penny, but there are also some cheap gems in here. Matthijs de Ligt has been left out because he’s already one of the most famous defenders in the world.

Right Back

FM21 wonderkids: Right Back

What we’ve learnt from this list of right backs is that England are sorted for the future. Special shout out goes to Ethan Laird who, by the end of my first season as Manchester United, had become first-choice over Wan-Bissaka.

Left Backs

FM21 wonderkids: Left Back

Some outstanding options here at left back, including one chap from New Zealand. Noah Katterbach especially looks to be a bargain choice.

Defensive Midfielders

FM21 wonderkids: Defensive Midfield

An eclectic mix of defensive midfielders here from some smaller clubs, along with one or two bigger names. One name has been omitted here – Sandro Tonali – because the chap is on the world stage already and your scouts are likely to have found him if you’re looking for a DM.

Central Midfielders

FM21 wonderkids: Centre Midfield

Two four-letter, sub-16 players in the central midfield category, with both Pipi and Gavi being signings for long in the future. Camavinga is definitely the most high profile name on the list, but any of these midfield maestros will be excellent choices for any team.

Attacking Midfielders

FM21 wonderkids: Attacking Midfield

A cracking list of young attacking mids here, though unfortunately most are already at big clubs. A few have been left out too, due to already being pretty well known; Joao Felix, Brahim Diaz, and Phil Foden.

Right Wingers

FM21 wonderkids: Right Wing

Manchester United fans will recognise two of the players here, with Pellistri signing over the summer and Amad Diallo having a transfer arranged to the club in January. There are another few big names missing here: Rodrygo, Ferran Torres, Pedro Neto, and Reiss Nelson are all huge names already, with hefty price tags attached.

Left Wingers

FM21 wonderkids: Left Wing

Jadon Sancho and Callum Hudson-Odoi have been omitted from this list because let’s face it – they’ve both stolen the spotlight already. But that would increase the number of English players on this list up to five, which bodes well for the future… right?

Strikers

FM21 wonderkids: Striker

Finally, there are the young goalscorers up to. The two best players – Erling Braut Haaland and Mason Greenwood – have been omitted for obvious reasons, but the rest of the players on the list are great shouts if you need someone to stick the ball in the back of the net.

The post Football Manager 2021 wonderkids: All the best young players appeared first on Game News.

A free Chrome extension (opens in new tab) called Animal Crossing Music brings the series’ real-time soundtrack to real life, letting you live like a resident of your own in-game town.

The extension takes into account data like your local time of day, day of the week, and even the weather to customize your listening experience. By default, it will play the same music at the same time as it would in-game. Currently I’m enjoying the mid-morning tunes of the original Animal Crossing while writing this from the US west coast. This weekend, I may hop online just to catch the latest K.K. Slider live performance. It’s a neat adaptation of the game’s beloved real-time gameplay mechanics. 

It also features music spanning the illustrious history of the series, including Animal Crossing, Wild World, City Folk/ Let’s Go to the City, New Leaf, and even Animal Forest, the series’ Japan-only progenitor. You can randomize which game soundtracks you hear in your browser and even override its localized settings. If it’s snowing out your front door but you wish it wasn’t, tell Animal Crossing Music to play the sunny day music. Maybe your schedule is off and you want the game’s evening vibes first thing in the morning. You can do that too. The weather data requires that you give the extension your location, so keep that in mind if you’re not the type to share that info so freely.

For the most musically inclined, you can even customize your own Town Tune and have it play on the hour like the clock in the center of your quaint village. The extension is totally free and available in both Chrome Web Store (opens in new tab) and GitHub (opens in new tab). 

It looks like Animal Crossing: New Horizons will have microtransactions (opens in new tab).

The post Let Animal Crossing be the background music to your life with this Chrome extension appeared first on Game News.

Didn’t catch it? Don’t worry, we’ve got the full accolades trailer in all its gory glory right here, so check out the video above to see what you missed. If you haven’t yet heard, Hitman 2 is another season for IO Interactive’s excellent reboot of the classic assassination franchise, in which players navigate a series of sprawling sandboxes to kill their targets as Agent 47 through any means possible.

Fans of the 2016’s Hitman (opens in new tab) will be pleased to know that the emergent level design and airtight stealth gameplay is back in full form for Hitman 2, allowing your Agent 47 to once again get truly creative with his executions. Send targets straight to the grim reaper via explosive rubber ducks, giant fish, or those iconic Silverballer pistols… the choice is yours.

As mentioned, Hitman 2 is already out on PC, PS4, and Xbox One, so if this trailer has left you hankering for the art of assassination, feel free to pick up your fresh copy of the game right now. If not, then feel free to watch the rest of the Golden Joystick Awards live on Twitch (opens in new tab), or keep an eye out on GamesRadar for coverage of all the latest news out of the show before it wraps up.

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